But van der Herchen made a far more surprising discovery when he came face-to-face with a 6-foot-long boa constrictor that took up residence in his home.

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Climbing snake (Photo by Luca Manieri, Getty Images)

A model with tattoo poses with a python around her neck during 2015 China (Taiyuan) International Automobile Exhibition on August 6, 2015 in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province of China. 2015 China (Taiyuan) International Automobile Exhibition held from August 6-9. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images)

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To his son's credit, he told his father that he thought a snake could be in the attic, but he didn't believe it until he saw the serpent himself.

"It took three and a half minutes for that snake to move into that rafter space...it was bigger than I expected," van der Herchen told WFLA-TV.

"It was actually bunking in the rafter space right above the Florida room chair where my wife sits," he said.